In-line detail sander

Abstract

An in-line sander comprising a sander body which houses a motor coupled to an in-line oscillating mechanism, configured to move a sanding pad in a linear oscillating motion. A corner or detail pad has a substantially flat lower surface and a substantially pointed front portion bounded laterally by two substantially-linear corner-sanding edges having an included angle of less than 90 degrees. A forward end of this substantially pointed front portion of the preferred corner or detail pad protrudes ahead of a front end of the sander body throughout the linear oscillating motion of the pad. The front portion of the preferred corner or detail pad has particular application for sanding into corners of a carcase. A preferred embodiment of the present corner or detail pad has at least one substantially linear side edge which is aligned substantially parallel to the linear oscillating motion of the sander. This substantially linear side edge of the pad protrudes laterally at least as far as the maximum width of the sander body. An alternate preferred sanding pad has at least one extended substantially linear side edge which is aligned substantially parallel to the linear oscillating motion of the sander and which extends laterally a conspicuous distance beyond the maximum width of the sander body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An in-line sander, comprising: (a) a sander body which houses a motor coupled to an in-line oscillating mechanism, the in-line oscillating mechanism being adapted and configured to move a sanding pad in a linear oscillating motion;   (b) a sanding pad coupled to the in-line oscillating mechanism, the sanding pad having a substantially flat lower surface and a substantially pointed front portion bounded laterally by two at least slightly convex front corner-sanding edges having an included angle of less than 90 degrees, the forward end of the substantially pointed front portion of the pad protruding ahead of the front end of the sander body throughout the linear oscillating motion of the pad, the pad also including a substantially pointed rear portion bounded laterally by two at least slightly convex rear corner-sanding edges having an included angle of less than 90 degrees, and the pad further being configured to be reversible such that when abrasive material supported by the front end of the pad becomes worn, the pad can be reversed end-for-end so that abrasive material at both substantially pointed portions of the pad can be easily and effectively used; and   (c) whereby, when the sander is in use where three workpiece surfaces meet one another perpendicularly to form a corner, the abrasive material supported by the pad under the forward end of the pad will effectively sand into the corner on any included surface of the corner.   
     
     
       2. The in-line sander of claim 1 wherein the sander body includes a vacuum housing at the front end of the sander body, the vacuum housing arranged and configured to be coupled above an upper side of a sanding pad, the vacuum housing defining vacuum housing dust ports extending through a peripheral edge of the vacuum housing. 
     
     
       3. The in-line sander of claim 1, wherein: (a) the forward end of the substantially pointed front portion of the pad comprises a substantially flattened portion joining the two sanding edges at the front end of the pad;   (b) whereby, when sanding into a corner, the substantially flattened portion of the substantially pointed front portion of the pad helps prevent indenting of workpieces by the front end of the pad.   
     
     
       4. The in-line sander of claim 1, wherein: (a) the sander body has a maximum width along the length of the sander body;   (b) the pad has at least one substantially linear side edge which is aligned substantially parallel to the linear oscillating motion, the at least one substantially linear side edge of the pad protruding laterally at least as far as the maximum width of the sander body;   (c) whereby, when the sander is in use where two workpiece surfaces meet one another at an included angle along edges of less than 180 degrees, the surfaces of each workpiece which form the included angle can be sanded up to the adjoining workpiece surface by sandpaper supported by the pad under the at least one substantially linear side edge of the pad.   
     
     
       5. The in-line sander of claim 4, wherein: (a) the pad has two substantially linear side edges which are aligned substantially parallel to the linear oscillating motion, each substantially linear side edge of the pad protruding laterally at least as far as the maximum width of the corresponding side of the sander body;   (b) whereby, when the sander is in use where two workpiece surfaces meet one another at an included angle along edges of less than 180 degrees, the surfaces of each workpiece which form the included angle can be sanded up to the adjoining workpiece surface by sandpaper supported by the pad under either substantially linear side edge of the pad.   
     
     
       6. The in-line sander of claim 5, wherein: (a) the substantially linear side edges of the pad define a pad width which is slightly larger than the maximum width of the sander body;   (b) wherein the sander can be effectively used on a workpiece surface bounded by protruding workpiece surfaces only slightly further apart than the maximum width of the sander body.   
     
     
       7. The in-line sander of claim 1, wherein: (a) the end of the substantially pointed rear portion of the pad comprises a substantially flattened portion joining the two sanding edges at the end of the pad;   (b) whereby, when sanding into a corner, the substantially flattened portion helps prevent indenting of workpieces by the front end of the sanding pad.   
     
     
       8. The in-line sander of claim 1 wherein the sanding pad defines dust ports through the lower surface of the sanding pad, the dust ports being in air flow communication with a dust collection system for collecting dust generated by the sander.